As Wigan Warriors defeated Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge, the focus was on the controversy around the winning try from centre from Jake Wardle.
This was perhaps an unfear oversight over the amazing try saver from Jai Field on Taylan May which effectively saved the game and underlined the quality of the Wigan Warriors fullback.
After the game, unsurprisingly, Wigan Warriors Head Coach Matt Peet was full of praise for the fullback.
“Jai’s been doing that in Super League,” Peet said to the Daily Telegraph.
“What our players have done tonight, I think that’s the point I’m making, is be themselves against an outstanding competition. Jai’s been saving tries for seasons.
“I can remember a handful of him doing the same thing.
“He’s becoming one of those players that when people are against him one-on-one, you expect him to make it. He works very hard on that. He probably saved 2-3 tries tonight, if not more.”
Wigan Warriors star open to NRL return
This came as Field spoke with the Telegraph himself about being keen on returning to the NRL like Jackson Hastings and Blake Green have done so in the past.
“I was at a couple of clubs where you don’t really get as much opportunities, or you get blooded as much as what other kids did that were in the same pathway as you,” he said.
“That’s why we end up over here. For me, you look at people I played before me – Blake Green, Jackson Hastings, they’ve gone over there now and gone well.
“It’s definitely still something you want to go and do. A lot of people are saying you couldn’t, but you still can.”
This came as he revealed his contract situation which has options to extend his stay beyond the 2024 season.
It will likely be down to Field to choose between exercising these options and staying at the DW Stadium or returning to the NRL.
“I got this year and next year and then see what happens from there. I’ve got a few options here in my favour at Wigan after next year, but everything’s always an option,” he said.
“That’ll be five years by the end of next year. That’s a long stint.”
